Sunday, July 12, 2015

For Muslims all over the world we always think about fasting when we think of Ramadhan.

However note that Allah did not introduce Ramadhan with fasting.

So what did Allah say?

Al Baqarah Aaya 185:

"Ramadan is the (month) in which the Quran was sent down, as a guide to mankind and a clear guidance and judgment (so that mankind will distinguish from right and wrong).."

Allah INTRODUCED Ramadhan with the QUR'AN instead.

The month of Ramadhan is in fact when the Qur'an was sent down.

Hence the FIRST thing we have to think about when it comes to Ramadhan is the QUR'AN.

Muslims know that Ramadhan is a time to get closer to Allah, time to make a lot of doa, to give up on sins, to make istighfar. We have to do a little extra, go to the mosque, when before we do not go.

But what is actually the KEY to getting closer to Allah?

It is the QUR'AN.

To fulfil the purpose of Ramadhan, this month has to be about the Qur'an for all of us.

Treat it like we never had a relationship with the Qur'an before, like we are starting all over again.

WHY OVER AGAIN?

Answer is back in Aaya 185 of Al Baqarah :

Al Baqarah is a Madani surah, which means it came down when Rasululah SAW and the Muslims have made the Hijrah to Madinah. They have been Muslims for a long time and by then they already know Quran is guidance for humanity. But when Allah introduces Ramadhan in Al Baqarah 185, Allah also re introduce the Qur'an - saying the Qur'an is guidance for people - which the Muslims and companions already know at that time.

The Lesson from this:

When Allah RE-INTRODUCE us to the Qur'an in that aaya, it's almost like Allah SWT wants us to to start all over again.

Start reading and studying the Qur'an.

Start reflecting and thinking about the Qur'an in this month of Ramadhan like we have never read it before.

Like it's the first time!

This is BEAUTIFUL. Why?

If we did fulfill the rites of Ramadhan, what Allah expects of us, Rasulullah has said that all our previous sins will be forgiven. We get a new start. This new start will come from us making a new start in our life in Ramadhan, and a new start with the Qur'an.

May Allah keeps us strong and steadfast in studying the Qur'an this Ramadhan and beyond. May Allah gives us clarity of mind and heart to understand it. May Allah grant us wisdom to apply the knowledge from it and to teach it to others. Aameen.

Saturday, July 11, 2015

These are the tips we use to educate our daughter to solah with us. Alhamdulillah it works for us. We educate our daughter to solah since she is 1 year old ++. Even though it's not compulsory for her to solah. We think that it's easier to educate her when she is still small, because the children learn by imitating adults.

1. Actions speak louder than words. When the baby is still small, we (either dad or mom) can hug / hold the baby or put the baby beside us while we are performing solah, so that the baby can watch our action.

It was reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him) carried a small girl whilst he was praying, picking her up
when he stood up and putting her down when he prostrated (sujood). This was
reported by al-Bukhaari and Muslim from Abu Qutaadah al-Ansaari: “The Messenger
of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to pray whilst he
was carrying Umaamah, the daughter of Zaynab bint Rasool-Allaah (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him). According to the report of Abu’l-‘Aas ibn
Rabee’ah ibn ‘Abd Shams, when he prostrated he put her down, and when he stood
up he picked her up.” (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, no. 486, and Muslim, no. 844).

How we pray while holding the baby

2. Take out the distractions while we solah, such as toys, tv, handphone and computer.

Before we start solah, we will turn off the tv first. Or, sometimes we just turn down the volume of tv and start solah, our daughter will definitely get the remote and turn off the tv first, then only join us to solah together.

3. Always practice solah in a group / as a family and solah in loud voice for maghrib & isyak.

We used to solah together and her papa will read the recitations in loud voice for maghrib & isyak. Our daughter will follow our actions & recite together, even though the pronunciation is still not 100% correct & complete, but we can understand which surah she is reciting actually. Currently, she knows surah Al-Fatihah, Al-Ikhlas, Al-Falaq & An-Nas.

4. Get them interest to listen to adhan, iqamat or quran recitations.

She likes to listen to adhan & Quran recitations on tv. At that time, she will stop from playing, stand in front of tv & watch it until the end. Sometimes, she will grab a Quran / Iqro' book to ask us to recite for her, too.

She is placing her hands to her ears when she saw someone reciting the adhan.

5. Don't start by offering / rewarding them with something for they to solah together. However, praise them / hug them for their effort to solah together with us. Educate them that they are not doing something just because of the rewards.

We never offer our daughter any reward for following us solah. It’s true that “do this and get that” type rewards can
improve behavior in the short term. However, the praise-and-reward method will cause the children end up doing things to impress, instead of doing things for themselves. The more rewards we use, the more we have to use them to
keep children motivated.

6. Invite them to solah together. Don't force them if they don't want to solah. Just keep encouraging them to solah with us from time to time.

Sometimes, our daughter doesn't want to follow us to solah together. We just ask her, "Do you want to solah together?" At first, she declined. But then she suddenly stand besides us & solah together. Don't force a child to solah when it is not obligatory upon them. Educate them to give them a reason so that they solah.

7. Buy them tudung or telekung they like (for daughter) if affordable

Like our daughter, she likes to copy our actions. What we wear, how we wear. They observe, they learn & they do. Before this, she likes to take her mama's headscarf or telekung and wear it, even the size is far too big for her. After bought her a pinky telekung, everytime we solah, she will get her telekung and wear it by herself then start solah. Sometimes, when she can't wear it well, she will get angry and cry. Haha..

1st pic: She didn't have a tudung / telekung at that time.
When her papa is praying, she put on her receiving blanket to cover her head
& asked her mama to wear her a long sleeve shirt.

2nd pic: She is wearing her mama's telekung. She doesn't
want to take it off & can't force her to take it off too. Oh my...

3rd pic: Finally, she gets her own telekung. We bought it online. It's quite big / long for her, yet she loves it very much.

Saturday, May 16, 2015

Assalamualaikum wa Rahmatullaah wa Barakaatuh,In our life, have we ever think how much Allah has given us and yet how much we have thank Him for what He give us?What if Allah choose not to bless us today because we didn't even have the time to thank Him for His blessings yesterday?

What if Allah decided to stop guiding us tomorrow because we disobey Him today?

What if Allah sent down drought because we grumbled when Allah sent the rain?

What if Allah took away the Quran tomorrow because we would not read it today?

What if Allah took away His message because we failed to obey the messenger?

What if the door of the Mosque was closed because we did not bother to even go to the mosque for one single prayer?

What if Allah stopped loving and caring for us because we failed to love and care for others?

What if Allah choose to ignore us today because we would not listen to Him?

What if Allah answered our prayers according to the way we answer His calls?

What if Allah provided our needs according to the way we appreciate our lives that Allah gives us?

The question is did Allah ever stop love, care, and provide for us when we disobey Him? The answer is 'No'. It shows that how loving and merciful Allah is and He will always be most forgiving and most merciful, but how do we show that we are grateful for what Allah has given us?

Al-Mughirah ibn Shu’bah reported: The Prophet, peace and
blessings be upon him, would pray until his feet were swollen. It was said,
“Why do you do this when Allah has forgiven your past and future sins?” The
Prophet said, “Shall I not be a grateful servant?”

[Source: Sahih Muslim 2819]

The more Allah showers His blessings upon the Prophet (peace
be upon him), the more act of worship that he performed to show his gratefulness.

If we love Allah, start doing something that Allah has commanded us to do. Take the Prophet (peace be upon him) as our best example. Don't wait until when there is no more time for us then all will be too late.

The pictures' wordings are in Chinese character. Thus, I tried to translate them to English, so that everyone can understand. By the way, I am not a professional translator. So, if anyone who has better translations, please do let me know ya. Thanks...

When you are not at home, they will just eat as simple as they could.

When you are at home, they prepare great meals for you everyday.

When you are not at home, they will view your profile again and again to follow the updates.

When you are at home, they always have lots of exhortation to say to you.

When you are not at home, they keep talking about you intentionally or unintentionally in front of other people.

When you are at home, they keep giving you the cold-shoulder.

When you are not at home, you have taken up the burden of life.When you are at home, your parents are deeply touched if you help them doing some housework.

When you are not at home, you are smart and competent.When you are at home, you are a child who always need to be taken care of.

They are your people first thought when you are wronged.They are your initial energy source of your hard work.

However, one day, you will find out...Many things that they should be able to do, become very difficult for them to do.Their memory becomes poorer and poorer.Their hearing also getting worse.

The faster you run, but you do not realize that they walked slower and slower.The bigger and stronger your are, they also getting older.When you get used to the days of their existence,you even forget that they will..... LEAVE.

You cannot think of.This thought makes a deep fear.When you finally realize, it's time to pay back them.

So, faster go home, before it is too late!

Say hello to all the parents of the world. You have worked hard.

# # # Friendly Reminder # # #Love your parents and treat them with loving care.For you will only know their value when you see their empty chair. :'(

Let's not forget to appreciate our parents.No matter
what, remember that they have brought us into this worldand raised us up with
countless sacrifices.

"We never prayed to have them. But they may have prayed to have us."

In addition, Islam has thought us:

"And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but
Him. And that you be dutiful to your parents. If one of them or both of them
attain old age in your life, say not to them a word of disrespect, nor shout at
them but address them in terms of honour. And lower unto them the wing of
submission and humility through mercy, and say: "My Lord! Bestow on them
Your Mercy as they did bring me up when I was small."[Al Isra'a 17:23-24]

P/S: It reminds me of my parents who stay at Sarawak. I miss them so much... Sob sob... :'(